Printable Road Trip Planner for your best vacation 2023

The Local Tourist
10 min readMar 19, 2023

Here’s your ultimate printable road trip planner, with 35+ worksheets, including planning pages, checklists, and packing lists for your perfect journey.

Road leading into Zion National Park, one of the trips that led to this road trip planner

Road trips are an exciting way to explore new places and create unforgettable memories. However, without proper planning, a road trip can quickly become overwhelming and expensive.

That’s why we’ve created a printable road trip planner to help you stay organized and save money on your next adventure.

This planner includes sections for trip details, itinerary, packing list, budget, saving money, and meal planning.

Keep track of all your travel plans with this printable set of worksheets, checklists, and itineraries. You’ll be able to map out your next trip, budget your expenses, and make the most of your time on the road.

Let’s dive into the details and start planning your dream road trip!

BONUS! Get FREE printable road trip packing lists. From paper maps to snacks, from batteries to blankets, this free download will keep you from running around wondering what you forgot — because you won’t forget anything.

Printable Road Trip Planner

Why do you need a printable road trip planner?

Whether you’re exploring a new part of the country or heading back to a favorite destination, there’s nothing quite like the feeling of hitting the open road.

But there are a LOT of details, and the best way to keep them organized is with a printable road trip planner.

The Local Tourist’s Printable Road Trip Planner is a set of worksheets, planning pages, and checklists designed to help you organize and plan your perfect adventure.

With over 35 pages of content, this printable road trip planner has everything you need to plan your trip, from dreaming up destinations to tracking your budget.

I have to tell you that I love the e-book and workbook. I am a big planner and all of the worksheets are like heaven to me. The meal planning and packing lists you provided are invaluable to me. I like to be prepared and your checklists pointed out so many items that I would not have thought of (until I needed them).

Cindy Godsey

Here are just a few of the ways your Printable Road Trip Planner can help you plan your perfect adventure:

  1. Keep track of your preparations.

A good road trip takes planning, and this printable road trip planner can help you keep track of everything you need to do before you hit the road.

Use the preparation timeline to make sure you’re on track, and the pre-trip checklist to make sure you haven’t forgotten anything important.

  1. Dream destinations.

Are you looking for inspiration? The dream destinations page can help you brainstorm potential places to visit.

Once you have a few ideas, use the choosing destinations pages to evaluate your options and narrow down your choices.

  1. Plan your activities.

What do you want to do on your road trip? Use the interests and things-to-do suggestion pages to brainstorm activities and set achievable goals for your trip.

You can also use the attractions and restaurants research pages to plan out your stay and make sure you don’t miss any must-see sights or eateries.

  1. Stay organized.

With at-a-glance itinerary, accommodation, attraction, and restaurant pages, you’ll be able to keep all of your plans organized and easily accessible.

Use the distance log and daily itinerary pages to track your progress, and the total, pre-trip, and daily budget pages to stay on budget.

  1. Get inspired.

A printable road trip planner isn’t just a tool for organization — it’s also a source of inspiration. Use the blank pages for notes and the two-column pages for easy organization to create a custom plan that reflects your unique style and interests.

This printable road trip planner is a great way to help you stay organized, stay on budget, and stay inspired as you plan your perfect adventure. It helps make this a fun process that’ll have you excited to take your amazing vacation.

Cannonball concretions at Theodore Roosevelt National Park
This unusual formation is located off the scenic drive in Theodore Roosevelt National Park

TLTip: Print the pages you need and put them in a binder or folder, creating your own customized travel organizer.

Inside Your Ultimate Printable Road Trip Planner

Here’s everything you’ll get inside this printable road trip planner.

Preparation Timeline Worksheet

A preparation timeline worksheet helps you stay organized during your vacation planning and ensures that you don’t forget any important tasks.

For example, it’s a good idea to jot reminders to get your oil changed, ensure you have any necessary medications, or purchase travel insurance.

This timeline has space for last minute tasks up to those you should do two months before your trip.

Choosing your Road Trip Destinations

The first step in planning your road trip is figuring out where to go. Figuring out your travel itinerary also has the bonus of being one of the most fun parts of the experience.

Choosing your perfect road trip destinations can be overwhelming, but these planner pages make it easy.

Chicago Field Museum view from south with steps in foreground.
Field Museum in Chicago, one of many bucket list attractions in the Windy City

Included in the planner are several worksheets dedicated to helping you choose your road trip destination, including listing your dream destinations, interests, and suggestions for things to do.

The Dream Destinations worksheet is a great starting point, inviting you to list all the places you have always wanted to visit. Think big and dream of far-off destinations that might not seem immediately attainable.

Looking for vacation ideas? Check out this guide to the most beautiful road trips in the USA.

It’s an excellent opportunity to brainstorm, and it’s helpful to keep this list for future trips.

With the Figuring Out Where To Go worksheet, you’ll answer a series of questions designed to help you hone in on your perfect destination. These include:

  • What kind of trip you’d like to have
  • When you’re going
  • Your travel time each day
  • The kind of roads you prefer
  • What the weather will be
  • Type of accommodations you like

When you fill out the What are your Interests worksheet, you’ll list what you and your fellow travelers enjoy doing. The worksheet helps you determine what kind of experiences you want to have on your road trip.

It’s basically a brain dump, and there’s a list of Things To Do on a Road Trip to get your imagination fired up. For example, maybe you want to visit lesser-known National Parks, or seek out every World’s Largest you can find. This list is like a starter pack to get you planning a unique experience.

Great Sand Dunes National Park, with dunes in the foreground and mountains in the background.
Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado

After you’ve made a list of your Road Trip Goals, like spending time with family or taking time for yourself, you’ll write down all your Potential Places.

By using these worksheets to choose your road trip destinations, you can ensure that you’re choosing places that align with your interests and align with the type of experience you’re looking for.

Accommodations, Attractions, and Restaurants Research

While part of the lure of a road trip is the ability to change plans when you see something unexpected, it’s also a good idea to research ahead of time.

In the road trip planner, you’ll find worksheets to help you keep track of your research for these key aspects of your trip.

The first worksheet is for Accommodations Research, which allows you to research and compare different hotels, motels, or vacation rentals for your trip. The worksheet includes columns for price, pros, and cons.

This can help you make an informed decision and find the perfect place to stay.

The second worksheet is for Attractions Research, where you can list and compare different attractions, landmarks, and activities that you want to experience on your road trip. When you find interesting places you’d like to visit, make a note in this planning page.

Finally, the third worksheet is for Restaurants Research. Compare dining options for your trip to help you plan where to eat and ensure that you have a great culinary experience.

By using these worksheets to research and organize your accommodation details, attractions, and restaurants, you can ensure that you make the most out of your road trip.

You can make informed decisions and avoid any unpleasant surprises, such as arriving at a hotel that doesn’t meet your expectations or a restaurant that doesn’t serve the type of food you like.

Road Trip Itineraries

Once you know where you’re going, it’s time to figure out when. An itinerary is one of the most important parts of the planning process for a successful road trip.

Even if you prefer to keep things loose, having a general idea of where you’ll be and when can make the whole experience smoother.

Because each person plans differently, there are several itinerary pages included in this ultimate road trip planner:

  • Month calendar
  • Itinerary at-a-glance
  • Itinerary brainstorm
  • Accommodations at-a-glance
  • Attractions at-a-glance
  • Restaurants at-a-glance
  • Distance log
  • Daily itinerary
  • Daily planner

The planner includes a blank Month Calendar, an Itinerary At-a-Glance, and an Itinerary Brainstorm, so you can map out your trip and have a clear idea of what you want to do each day.

The planner also includes Accommodations At-a-Glance, Attractions At-a-Glance, and Restaurants At-a-Glance worksheets, so you can keep track of the places you plan to stay, visit, and dine at.

A Distance Log helps you keep track of the distance between destinations. The Daily Itinerary lets you keep track of weather, your route, and your confirmation numbers. Finally, with the Daily Planner, you can make the most of your time.

Road Trip Budget Worksheets

Ah, the budget. One of the least favorite, yet most essential aspects of planning a road trip. Making a budget, and sticking to it, can reduce any potential stress. Whether you have a little money or a lot, this is a vacation and you want to make it as easy as possible!

Your printable road trip planner includes several budget worksheets to help you manage your expenses and stay within your budget.

The Total Budget worksheet provides space for you to list all your expected expenses, such as gas, accommodations, attractions, and food.

The Pre-trip Budget worksheet allows you to plan and budget for expenses before you hit the road, such as buying any special attire you might need (rain slickers, hiking boots, etc), stocking up on supplies, and getting your vehicle serviced.

The road trip travel planner also includes a Daily Budget worksheet, which allows you to track your expenses on a daily basis. This worksheet includes sections for all of your daily expenses such as gas, food, and activities.

Additionally, the planner provides a cheat sheet of tips on how to save money on your road trip. It includes strategies to help you cut costs, such as packing snacks and meals, using discount coupons, and taking advantage of free attractions.

Road Trip Meal Planning

Food is a big part of your road trip. You have to eat, right? It’s also one of the biggest expenses.

With the road trip meal planning printables, you’ll find lots of ideas for breakfast, lunch, snacks, and dinner. Planning your meals helps keep your food costs down.

Snack Ideas provide suggestions for healthy and delicious snacks to pack for the road. Food for Meals is a packing list of ingredients you can take to make your own meals on the road, such as sandwiches, salads, and pasta dishes.

Betsy's Best gourmet nut butter in Badlands National Park
Nut butters and wraps are great for road trips

Meal Ideas offers inspiration and ideas for easy meals you can prepare during the trip.

Additionally, the planner provides a Road Trip Meal Planner worksheet, which allows you to plan your meals for the entire trip. This worksheet includes sections for each meal of the day and allows you to plan your meals in advance, so you can enjoy delicious and healthy meals throughout the trip.

Road Trip Packing Lists

Before you hit the road, make sure you’ve got everything you need. There are several packing lists so you don’t forget any road trip essentials.

The planner includes a pre-trip checklist worksheet, which allows you to list all of the items you need to pack before you hit the road. This includes items such as chargers, medications, and travel documents.

The planner also includes separate packing lists for your vehicle, personal items, and food and drinks. The Vehicle Packing List includes items such as a first aid kit, jumper cables, and paper maps.

Jeannie the Jeep on Beartooth Highway
Beartooth Highway on the way to Yellowstone National Park

The Personal Packing List includes items such as clothing, toiletries, and entertainment. The Food and Drink Packing List makes sure you’re covered with snacks, water bottles, and coolers.

Additionally, there’s a Blank Packing List with space for notes, so you can customize your packing list based on your unique needs and preferences.

The Blank, Two-column Packing List allows you to list even more items.

By using these packing list worksheets, you can ensure that you have everything you need for the trip and avoid any unexpected surprises or setbacks.

Download Your Ultimate Printable Road Trip Planner Today!

This printable road trip planner is an invaluable tool for anyone planning a road trip. With over 35 printable worksheets, including planning pages, checklists, and packing lists, this planner provides a comprehensive guide to help you plan and organize every aspect of your trip.

From choosing destinations and researching accommodations, attractions, and restaurants to planning meals, budgets, and packing lists, this planner has everything you need to create a successful and enjoyable road trip experience.

If you’re planning a road trip and want to make sure you have everything you need to enjoy the journey, then this printable road trip planner is the perfect resource for you.

You can buy and download the planner for only $10, and it’s available immediately upon purchase. So don’t wait any longer, get your printable road trip planner today and start planning your perfect road trip!

Originally published on The Local Tourist

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The Local Tourist

Born to write with a nearly obsessive love of travel, history, cooking, Chicago, and my husband. Author, speaker, exuberant lover of life.